Book X V I. O f Sale.
Book XV II. O f Sirf Sa le.
T o enter fully into the fubje&s of thefe books*' would occupy more
time and fpace than is confident with the brevity of prefatory remark.
T h e obfervations we have made concerning Book XIV. will equally apply
to thefe throughout. The book of Sale is fwelled by a vaft acceffion of
incidental matter. O f thefe the mold ftriking is Usury, the fubjeft of
Chap. VIII. T h e Mohammedans, in this particular, _ clofely copy the
Jewi/h law, by which the children o f Israel were, alfo ftridtlyforbidden
to exercile ,ufury among each other. — T o this- chapter the
book of SIRF Sa le may in fome meafure be confidered as a fuppkment,
fince it feems chiefly calculated to guard and provide- againfl: the pra&ice
o f Usury in the exchange.of, the precious metals.
Book XVIII. O f Ba il .
Under this head are comprehended all forts of fecurity, whether for
perfon or property.— This book contains a gpod deal of practical matter,
(particularly in the laws concerning guarantees,) and is therefore worthy
of an attentive perufal.
Book XIX. T ransfer o f Debts,
Is in fome meafure fupplementary'to the former, as the tranfadfion of
which it treats is performed by way of giving fecurity to a creditor. '
Book XX. Duties1-^ ftfe Razee.
T he fubjedt of this book is of the utmoft importance in all countries,
as upon the condudt of the magif rales the welfare and happinefs o f every
fociety muft chiefly depend : and indeed the Mohammedans efteem it of fo
much importance, that feveral large works have been written, by their
principal law commentators, under this title.— In Cha|>. I. and II. the
proper conduit of a judge, and the behaviour required in him, are briefly
defined.— In thefe, however, as well as. in. the fuoceedjng chapters, the
text wanders ftraiigely from its profefled fubjpct,.. and goes into a variety
of matter which would appear to fall more properjy under; other heads.
Book XXI. O f Evidence.
Book XXII. O f R etra.c t a t io n ©f E vidence.
T hese are two as ufeful books as any in the whole work,— and deve-
lope fome of the moil important principles in judicial proceedings.— The
laft fection of Book XXI. fhews-, that the punifhments incurred by
perjury are (as has been already noticed) o f a very flight nature, and
calculated to operate more upon men’s- feelings than their fears. T h e
reafons for this lenity are of the fame defcription with thofe urged by our
lawyers. Perhaps, indeed, the infamy and perpetual difqualifications to
which the witnefs is fubjecied by it may operate as efFedtually as thofe
penalties which the L aw prefcribes ;— but it is certain that fa lfe tef-
timotiy is regarded with lefs abhorrence by Mohammedans in general than
among Chrifians.
V ol. I. k V O L .